His Weakness Is Strong

Think of an 80-seat theater and what it takes to fill those 80 seats -- and then witness Patton Oswalt on the penultimate night of his Fake Gallery residency and know that the space has not been truly filled until his violently intelligent comedy acumen is within it. Last year's documentary, To Be Loved & Understood, captured Oswalt on his sojourn through crippling self-doubt, revealing a man who wants the two most basic connections with humanity (see that title). Humor is Oswalt's lifeline and, much like Charles Bronson in The Great Escape, he digs his way through the misery to reach others, taking up residency in your mind, making you think twice about the way you see the world. A guide rather than a scold, Patton Oswalt is that rare heroic figure who uses his humor like a hammer to shatter the ice of civilization -- a toy hammer making a funny sound even as it makes contact and breaks though. The Fake Gallery, 4319 Melrose Ave., E. Hlywd.; Wed., July 3, 8 p.m.; free. (323) 644-4946, fakedotcom.com.
Wed., July 3, 8 p.m., 2013